Development policy and finance

Perspective / What a new goal for adaptation finance must have, to be sufficient, effective and equitable.

Perspective / SEI and UNDP authors explore the urgency of managing transboundary climate risks to safeguard global progress.

Feature / This Q&A with Katherine Browne, SEI research fellow, maps the climate finance landscape and what is at stake in negotiations leading to a new goal.

Feature / Cambridge MBA students build diverging business cases for basic service provision in sub-Saharan Africa.

Feature / In their book, Obsessive Measurement Disorder or Pragmatic Bureaucracy?, authors Susanna Alexius and Janet Vähämäki explore the complexities of development aid.

Feature / Renewable energy finance in Africa faces an uphill battle. With patience and more knowledge sharing, recent encouraging results can continue.

Feature / SEI was invited to share research insights with the International Development Association and Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Feature / A recent SEI workshop explored ways to boost private investment in Africa's energy sector through collaborative dialogue.

Feature / A recent SEI workshop in Ghana revealed insights into overcoming investment barriers in African renewable energy.

Perspective / Systemic changes are needed in public and private finance towards the achievement of the SDGs.

Perspective / The international community must pay serious attention and spend political capital on the mechanisms through which finance translates into actual projects.

Perspective / SEI researchers propose seven measures to help the global financial system better address interlinked climate and sustainable development goals.

Feature / Development interventions meant to make life better and more sustainable can sometimes go wrong – especially in regions where conflict is the backdrop.

Perspective / The chief barrier to industrial transition is not a lack of capital, but the absence of clear policies on incentives for green transition.

Feature / Two SEI researchers travelled to Zambia to investigate the effectiveness of financial risk mitigation strategies intended to fuel renewable energy investment.

SEI brief / The NCQG must include these must-haves to ensure funding meets the objectives of sufficient, effective and equitable climate adaptation.

Other publication / The report examines the health risks in the feed and food chain, with a specific focus on risk analysis and effective communication.

Other publication / This report summarises the findings of a survey carried out by the SweDev, exploring reactions to the Swedish government’s funding cuts.

Other publication / High-emitting industrial sectors are set to grow in developing and emerging countries, but obstacles remain with securing investments for low-carbon production.

Other publication / Find out more about the state of play, recent initiatives, and prospects for financing the SDGs in Ghana, Indonesia, Mexico, and Senegal.

Journal article / This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the role and influence of externally sourced experts at the Swedish development aid agency, Sida.

SEI report / This report examines the use of risk mitigation and transfer (RMT) instruments in private utility-scale renewable energy investments.

Journal article / This paper proposes a working definition and a methodology for measuring the extent to which a DSO is active.

SEI report / This report explores the role of risk mitigation and transfer (RMT) instruments for enabling renewable energy investments in SADC countries.

Journal article / In this journal article, 65 researchers from 23 countries summarize what the assess as the past year’s most important findings within climate change research.

SEI report / Policy can address key challenges for investments in technological and production changes that bring deep emissions cuts in heavy industry in Sweden.

Journal article / The article examines whether financing is a significant obstacle for achieving radical emission reductions in energy-intensive industrial sectors.

Other publication / International finance institutions can play an important role in kick-starting the transition to green steel, especially in emerging and developing regions.

SEI brief / A recent study for Swedish EPA mapped financial flows of the five biggest lenders in Sweden. The results suggest limited alignment with the Paris Agreement.

SEI report / A research report for the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency examines domestic and international flows of the largest lenders in Sweden post-climate rules.

SEI brief / Read the policy points from a comprehensive assessment of the role of DFIs in supporting development objectives in three countries – Ethiopia, Ghana and Kenya.

SEI report / How does development finance support national development plans and SDG achievement? This report examines the cases of Kenya, Ethiopia and Ghana.

Journal article / The aim of this paper is to further explore the role of the finance sector in sustainability transitions.

Journal article / This article comments on the potential of sustainability-linked bonds to contribute to the decarbonization of the real economy.

SEI report / This report focuses on “active engagement”, where investors engage with high-emitting sectors, to impact green transition in four key industries.

SEI brief / How can investors in high-emitting sectors help the drive to net zero? This brief presents insights for the agriculture, steel, cement, and oil and gas sectors.

Journal article / What drives the market in green bonds? Read a new study from Norway and Sweden.

SEI brief / This brief uses data and relevant literature to map the African finance landscape in order to understand the green bonds market and its future outlook.

Journal article / This article investigates the link between companies’ climate targets and green debt financing.

Other publication / The most pressing challenge that remains for Sweden is to achieve drastic greenhouse gas emission cuts in heavy industry. How can financing help the transition?

Other publication / This report uses data to understand the structure and development of the green bonds market in Africa and explores the challenges and opportunities it faces.

SEI working paper / This working paper looks at the potential for green bonds to scale-up financing for adaptation and resilience.

Journal article / What impact are green bonds having on sustainability financing and implementation?

Other publication / Read the results of a scoping study on sustainable city bonds.

Other publication / This thesis contributes new knowledge about how service design can be used to design development interventions in complex social-ecological contexts.

Other publication / This chapter of the Emissions Gap Report 2022 considers the transformations of the finance system needed to enable the achievement of the Paris Agreement.

Journal article / The purpose of this paper is to analyze the effects of human hunting and carnivore predation pressure on game harvests.

Other publication / Nelson Ekane’s contribution to the Routledge Handbook of Water and Development focuses on the obstacles to the achievement of the SDG targets on sanitation.

Journal article / This paper explores different stakeholders’ perceptions of promising climate-smart agriculture initiatives within 5 European production systems.

SEI report / Get a thorough analysis of EU policy on consumption-based emissions, as well as insights and recommendations for the EU and member states on how to reduce them.

SEI brief / Get key findings from a comprehensive analysis of EU policy on consumption-based emissions, and recommendations for tackling them.

Journal article / This paper examines how UK energy network regulation can be adapted to address the uncertainties posed by net zero climate policy.

Journal article / This study analyses political economy factors that can influence the emergence of mini grid electricity development in the African context, focusing on Kenya.

Journal article / Using arts-based approaches, researchers worked with communities in Nairobi to empower people to take action on air pollution.

Journal article / This study used ongoing reflection diaries to evaluate research approaches and presented recommendations for future transdisciplinary work.

Other publication / To accelerate the SDGs, G20 policies and programmes need to address the manifestations of gender inequality.